Warning: SPOILERS for Elsbeth season 2, episode 20, "Ramen Holiday."

There’s quite a bit to unpack after the Elsbeth’s cast of characters, some delightful and others bittersweet.

But while much of the finale is relatively self-contained, there are at least a few changes that could have long-lasting ramifications. After the final scene alone, it’s clear that Elsbeth season 3 will feel a bit different, although the Elsbeth season 2 finale returns to enough of a status quo that fans won’t have to worry about the show losing its identity. It’s not going to be an easy balancing act, but the biggest plot points from the finale showcase exactly how the series will pull it off.

Elsbeth Ruins An Entire Prison (For Well-Meaning Purposes)

The Inmates Hate Her Even More Now

Tracey Ullman’s Elsbeth character Marilyn Gladwell previously told Tascioni that she needed to be careful of a situation involving a figure in black robes. It initially appeared as if Elsbeth might be in physical danger, but nothing happened to her prior to Crawford’s death. That’s because the real danger of a man like Judge Crawford was that he had connections who could bend the law to their will, which is exactly how Elsbeth wound up in prison. Fortunately for her inquisitive side, she showed up right before her first suspect ever, Alex Modarian, was murdered in the prison library.

Elsbeth being who she is, lacking police resources wasn’t going to stop her from investigating the case. With the help of several inmates who hate Elsbeth for putting them there, Elsbeth was able to trace Modarian’s murder back to Warden Mama Martin, who killed Alex to keep him from exposing her prison black market. Ironically, however, the now-arrested Martin was also responsible for the inmates’ unique privileges such as theater and crafts. Just as Elsbeth was getting chummy with her former suspects, they now see her as the woman who took their few remaining freedoms away.

How Wagner & Blanke Get Elsbeth Out Of Prison

It Takes Help From Some Familiar Allies

While Elsbeth’s having the time of her life playing detective within prison walls, Kaya and Wagner are doing everything they can to get her out. And there’s something of a time crunch on it because Kaya leaves to begin her task force training soon enough that she won’t be able to say goodbye unless they spring Elsbeth in a matter of days. Wagner tries to persuade Judge Dousant to drop her case, but he still blames her for the death of his friend Crawford.

In the end, Wagner proves unsuccessful on his own. Kaya and Wagner do manage to see Elsbeth in the free world again, but only with a bit of help. First, Teddy looks into the Mertens case and sees that Edwin Dousant was actually intended to try the case before he recused himself and allowed Milton Crawford to take over. From there, Officer Chandler learns that Dousant left the bench for a junket paid for by the Historical Law Society, where most of Crawford’s influence resides. Dousant ultimately becomes convinced of Crawford’s guilt and wastes no time in dropping Elsbeth’s charges.

Elsbeth Says Goodbye To Blanke (Her Season 3 Future Explained)

It’s Not “Goodbye” But “See You Later”

With the recent reveal that Kaya’s going to be leaving Wagner’s precinct to Captain Kershaw’s undercover task force, it’s no surprise that Carra Patterson’s Kaya Blanke is leaving Elsbeth as a series regular. Fortunately, Kaya will return in Elsbeth season 3 in a more limited capacity as a recurring guest star. Tascioni struggled with the news initially, but she finally comes around in the Elsbeth season 2 finale’s tear-jerking final scene, in which she acknowledges that Kaya’s going where she’s most needed at the moment.

It's unclear whether Kaya will just return for friendly visits, or if her task force will feature in at least one episode. However, her goodbye to Elsbeth focuses on the times when she won’t be around at all. Kaya tells Elsbeth to look around whenever she feels lonely and picture the nearest person as Blanke undercover, which Elsbeth wholeheartedly agrees to try. It’s a tearful moment, but one that shows just how well Kaya’s come to understand and embrace her friend’s more fanciful nature.

How Else Elsbeth Season 2 Sets Up Season 3

Will Elsbeth Embark On An International Adventure?

During her toast, Elsbeth mentions that she’s thought about leaving New York, which Detective Samantha Edwards immediately takes as meaning that she’s planning on seeing Ioan Gruffudd’s Elsbeth character Angus again so they can continue their romance. This hints at a unique episode idea for the show, as it implies that Elsbeth might fly to Scotland to see Angus rather than having him visit her in New York. If she does, she can be expected to find a murder there. And while she’s in New York, an episode involving Kaya’s task force is never off the table.

The Elsbeth season 2 finale also sets up some potential new allies for Elsbeth season 3. Prison guard Rocco expressed interest in ing Wagner’s precinct, and he even made the final arrest on Mama Martin. If Elsbeth puts in a good word for him, he may appear again in a new job role. More importantly, Dousant recognizing Crawford’s guilt means that Elsbeth may have an ally on the bench for future investigations into corruption. Crawford still has a lot of friends out there who aren’t fans of Tascioni’s, so she’ll need all the help she can get.

What To Expect From Elsbeth Season 3

New York Still Has A Lot Of Corruption To Battle

While the series can go in any number of directions, there are a few things worth expecting. Elsbeth changed its procedural format numerous times in season 2, with episodes in which the killer was never caught or in which the killer was unknown to the audience until the end. The show can be expected to play with its format even more in Elsbeth season 3 while naturally including even more fantastic guest stars. Meanwhile, Wagner and Connor will likely continue their hunt to find Elsbeth a new partner, assuming she isn’t simply happy rotating among the officers and detectives already cast.

Moreover, Elsbeth’s consent decree means that her presence on the series demands at least one major corruption storyline in every season. Whether Dousant returns as an ally or the villain happens to be one of Crawford’s friends, Elsbeth season 3 will almost certainly find a way to introduce a corrupt villain even more imposing than Judge Crawford. And when Kaya isn’t around to help Elsbeth through her latest battle, she’ll still have Teddy and all of her remaining friends at the NYPD there to assist in Tascioni’s never-ending fight for truth.

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